Technology

Tesla opened the doors to its first showroom in India this week, and among the first visitors was Vishal Gondal — a longtime Tesla and Elon Musk loyalist who pre-booked a Model 3 in April 2016, just hours after reservations went live. But despite showing up on day one, Gondal says he has no plans to buy a Tesla now. “I felt a little bit underwhelmed,” said Gondal, founder and CEO of fitness-tech startup GOQii, after visiting the maiden Tesla showroom in Mumbai’s Bandra-Kurla Complex. Over the better part of a decade, Gondal held out hope for Tesla’s debut in India. But his excitement soured when he had to chase the company for a refund in 2023 — sending multiple emails just to get his $1,000 reservation fee. “Trying to get the money back was a problem,” he told TechCrunch. “And the joke was, had we invested that money in Tesla IPO stock, we would have made more money.” Gondal is among the earliest backers of Tesla in India — someone who pre-booked a vehicle long before there were any guarantees. But nine years on, it seems many of those early believers are not celebrating the launch and have instead made up their mind not to go with Tesla, at least on its debut. Those backers never got their Model 3s, for which they paid the reservation fee soon after Musk promised to launch the car in the country. And some, like Gondal, even waited and tried hard for years to get the refund, while some got it in May, just a couple of months before Tesla’s formal debut. “It is frustrating to see Tesla take so long. I mean, our government and processes and red carpet are hard, but it’s hilarious that even Starlink has gotten approval in a shorter period,” said Varun Krishnan, who runs tech blog FoneArena from Chennai and is also one of Tesla’s early backers in India. Techcrunch event San Francisco | October 27-29, 2025 Tesla did not invite these loyalists to visit its Mumbai showroom, nor did it give them an update on the launch. The 6,000-square-foot Tesla showroom is located in Maker Maxity Mall, near Apple’s first store in the country. Nonetheless, Gondal said Tesla’s store was nowhere near similar to that of the Apple store launch. “When Apple launched their showroom in the same place, the buzz that Apple was able to create versus the buzz that Tesla was able to create, there is a world of difference,” he said. Gondal went to the Tesla showroom in his Audi e-Tron, which he had bought the previous year, after waiting a long time for the Model 3. Image Credits:Vishal Gondal / X “This felt like the coldest launch,” said Amit Bhawani, founder of tech blog Phoneradar, who also pre-reserved the Model 3 in 2016. Bhawani eventually got the $1,000 refund after criticizing Tesla in a video released on YouTube in 2020. The video received comments from dozens of people who had also reserved the Model 3 in India and were waiting for a refund, he said. “That’s when I felt that the whole love for Tesla became a real hatred for Tesla,” he told TechCrunch. “The least Tesla could have done was email all the people who reserved the car earlier and said, ‘Guys, we are going to have a special event for you’,” Gondal said. “Those people really went out of their way, and even though let’s say it’s not a big amount, it was saying that we support Tesla.” Some others, like Kawaljit Singh Bedi, said they have no regrets about supporting Tesla, although they received the refund just before the launch this year. Nevertheless, they are also not looking to buy a Tesla soon. “After all these years I have waited, I’m in no hurry to buy it now and become the first one to have it, because what’s the point? I waited nine years? I can wait nine years and six months more,” said Bedi, co-founder and CTO of Frammer AI. “Most of them who had put in their early vote of confidence are disappointed, including, I know, Vishal and Vijay [Shekhar Sharma of Paytm],” said Krishnan. “People like Vishal or Vijay, they are taken with a lot of authority. So, if they are buying something, there would be 100 people going by their word.” Sharma, founder and CEO of Indian fintech giant Paytm, echoed comments from other early backers, telling TechCrunch that he would not go with Tesla and would rather wait for a larger portfolio of cars. “It may be a bit too late,” he said. “There are so many other options with price-value math more suited for India.” The years-long delay in Tesla’s launch — along with not being invited to the showroom opening — has left some of the brand’s earliest Indian loyalists feeling let down, said Arun Bhatt, founder of Tesla Club India, who also pre-booked a Model 3 in 2016 “You paid something and you ardently waited for 10 years, and then out of the blue, they just tell you, we’ll cancel it and we’ll refund, then what happens — 10 years having waited for something, will we be given preferential treatment?” he questioned. “There’s zero communication regarding that. So, eight out of 10 reservation holders are frustrated.” Bhatt started the club with another Tesla enthusiast and Delhi University student, Nikhil Chaudhary, in 2019 as an informal group for people having an interest in the EV carmaker. However, he told TechCrunch that due to the delay in Tesla’s launch in the country, the club has slowly changed from a Tesla awareness club to an EV and clean energy awareness club. No clarity on after-sales and local Supercharger network One of the concerns that many Tesla early backers have is the lack of clarity on how Tesla will set up the Supercharger network in the country and handle after-sales care. The company announced that it would establish eight charging stations, equally distributed across

Following a Pro Publica report that Microsoft was using engineers in China to help maintain cloud computing systems for the U.S. Department of Defense, the company said it’s made changes to ensure this will no longer happen. The existing system reportedly relied on “digital escorts” to supervise the China-based engineers. But according to Pro Publica, those escorts — U.S. citizens with security clearances — sometimes lacked the technical expertise to properly monitor the engineers. In response to the report, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth wrote on X, “Foreign engineers — from any country, including of course China — should NEVER be allowed to maintain or access DoD systems.” On Friday, Microsoft’s chief communications officer Frank X. Shaw responded: “In response to concerns raised earlier this week about US-supervised foreign engineers, Microsoft has made changes to our support for US Government customers to assure that no China-based engineering teams are providing technical assistance for DoD Government cloud and related services.”  Read More

Andy Byron, the startup executive at the center of an extraordinary social media furor, has resigned as CEO of data operations startup Astronomer.  Byron, who is married, was captured on a Coldplay concert “kiss cam” with his arms around the company’s chief people officer Kristin Cabot. After Byron and Cabot quickly tried to hide from the camera, Coldplay singer Chris Martin joked, “Either they’re having an affair or they’re just very shy.” Video of the awkward incident soon went spectacularly viral — Axios, citing Muck Rack data, reported on Friday that over the preceding 24 hours, 22,000 news articles had been published about the startup, including 9,000 about Byron himself. (Amidst the many jokes and memes, 404 Media argued that the incident is “emblematic of our social media surveillance dystopia.”) Astronomer, which announced in May that it had raised a $93 million Series D, said Friday that Byron had been placed on leave, with cofounder and Chief Product Officer Pete DeJoy becoming interim CEO. Cabot has reportedly been placed on leave as well. Now, the company has released a longer statement announcing that Byron has resigned. “Our leaders are expected to set the standard in both conduct and accountability, and recently, that standard was not met,” Astronomer said. “Before this week, we were known as a pioneer in the DataOps space, helping data teams power everything from modern analytics to production AI,” the company added. “While awareness of our company may have changed overnight, our product and our work for our customers have not.” Techcrunch event San Francisco | October 27-29, 2025 DeJoy will continue to serve as interim CEO as the board searches for a permanent replacement. Anthony Ha is TechCrunch’s weekend editor. Previously, he worked as a tech reporter at Adweek, a senior editor at VentureBeat, a local government reporter at the Hollister Free Lance, and vice president of content at a VC firm. He lives in New York City. View Bio Read More

SkazovD/Shutterstock If you are an avid PC gamer, chances are you might have heard of MSI, the Taiwanese PC brand popular for its gaming laptops, desktop PCs, and PC components. MSI, which is short for Micro-Star International, was founded in 1986, with the company initially focusing on components like motherboards and graphics cards. Today, however, MSI is a familiar name among gamers, thanks to its extensive range of gaming-focused products, which include laptops, desktops, and handhelds. MSI also dabbles with a variety of PC components and accessories. It was only after the gaming industry exploded in the 2000s that MSI began its evolution into a maker of computers. One of MSI’s first standalone products was the MSI Mega PC, a unique product that combined the functionalities of a full-fledged desktop PC and a well-equipped audio center. The MegaPC featured a front end that resembled a mini component system — complete with an LCD panel and a volume dial — but a rear end that featured PC-like ports. MSI’s first-ever laptop — the MSI Megabook M510c — was released in 2004. This was a $2,500 machine that was then described by Engadget as “reasonably well equipped.” Fast forward two decades; today, MSI produces a wide range of products, including gaming laptops for every budget, desktops, monitors, gaming peripherals, cooling systems, and even streaming gear. Despite being around for nearly 40 years, MSI is still considered a niche player in the world of laptops and desktop PCs, with a market share considerably less than players like HP, Dell, Asus, and Lenovo. MSI’s low market share can be attributed to the fact that the company primarily focuses on the gaming space, although of late, the company has a lineup of products that target the non-gaming crowd. MSI and its long association with gamers tinhkhuong/Shutterstock For gamers, MSI’s familiar red-and-black dragon logo has become a common sight at some of the world’s premier esports tournaments. For several years, MSI has had a deep-rooted involvement in the global gaming ecosystem, which has helped it become a well-established player in the competitive gaming space. MSI’s popularity among gamers stems in part from its strategic sponsorship of high-profile esports tournaments such as ESL One, DreamHack, and the PUBG Global Championship 2023. These events attract millions of viewers and serve as a showcase for MSI’s hardware. The brand also sponsors regional competitions in Dota 2 and CS: GO, particularly in Asia and Europe, reinforcing its global presence. Aside from popular tournaments, MSI makes a notable presence at major gaming expos, such as Computex, Gamescom, and CES, where it unveils new hardware and hosts live matches and influencer demonstrations. MSI has also sponsored professional teams like Fnatic, Flash Wolves, and Cloud9, boosting its brand visibility. If that wasn’t enough, MSI even runs its own global tournament series, the Masters Gaming Arena (MGA), which claims to provide a platform for rising talent. This strategy gives MSI a strong presence in spaces where its core audience hangs out — Twitch, Discord, Reddit, and YouTube. MSI also runs its own bulletin board/online forum, which lets its users have an interactive space to discuss MSI products, exchange technical insights, troubleshoot and solve common problems. MSI’s strong lineup of gaming-focused products Beyond sponsoring major gaming events and supporting gifted gamers, MSI has developed a comprehensive ecosystem of high-end computing products, several of which feature the brand’s most advanced and premium-tier (and expensive) hardware. Its gaming laptops, including the “Raider”, “Stealth,” and “Titan” series, are purpose-built with the latest Intel or AMD processors and paired with high-end NVIDIA GeForce RTX graphics cards. Many of these laptops come with high refresh rate displays, advanced thermal solutions like Cooler Boost technology, and support for fast PCIe Gen 4 SSDs. These are the kind of specs competitive gamers drool over. As for desktops, MSI has a comprehensive range of products with the MEG series positioned as the highest-tier, followed by MPG series in the mid-range tier, and MAG lineup catering to the entry-level crowd. All these machines feature gamer-friedy features, are overclocking-friendly and are easy to upgrade. The company also has its own software suite called the MSI Center that allows users to adjust fan speeds, lighting, overclocking profiles, and game-specific optimizations. And then there’s the aesthetics. MSI machines look the part. With aggressive designs, RGB lighting zones, and aluminum chassis, MSI gear fits perfectly into a gaming setup, whether it’s in a dorm room, or a tournament booth. Ultimately, MSI’s popularity amidst gamers stems the company’s relentless focus on the gaming vertical and the fact that it understands the needs of its target audience. Read More

It may be hard to believe, but self-flying military helicopters already exist and are undergoing real-world testing. We’re not talking about theoretical concepts or something exciting happening in the near future, as major aerospace players have flown helicopters without anyone at the controls. For example, Lockheed Martin’s Sikorsky division showed a Black Hawk taking off, maneuvering an environment filled with obstacles, and even landing all by itself. Making it possible are its advanced sensors, artificial intelligence, and flight systems that can deal with everything from normal route planning to tricky emergency situations. These autonomous rotorcraft are predominantly under the control of defense contractors and research programs for now. Still, they offer a compelling look at where both military and civilian aviation might be heading over the next decade. The results of these tests extend beyond military use into emergency medical services, search and rescue operations, and commercial cargo delivery. These systems could operate in dangerous conditions where human pilots face unacceptable risks, while maintaining the operational safety and reliability needed for critical missions. Inside the tech that makes autonomous helicopters possible A concept as intricate as self-flying helicopters must be precise and have safety as its main priority. The technology relies on a fusion of cutting-edge systems to keep it stable, safe, and aware of its surroundings. A common system uses a combination of lidar, radar, optical cameras, GPS, and inertial navigation units to create a detailed, constantly updated map of the world around it. The data that’s collected is filtered into powerful onboard computers operating AI-driven flight software that can plot courses, adjust to weather changes, avoid obstacles, and even communicate with air traffic controllers. Sikorsky’s MATRIX technology is one of the most advanced examples. It allows a UH-60 Black Hawk to execute fully autonomous missions. Simultaneously, the DARPA-backed Aurora Flight Sciences ALIAS program is designed to be a flexible kit that can be installed in existing aircraft like the UH-1 Huey. It can automate important flight duties and execute complex emergency procedures. This dramatically cuts down the workload on human pilots to serve as a safeguard if they become debilitated. Why you won’t see them at your local dealer anytime soon Dustin Satloff – Fifa/Getty Images Regardless of impressive leaps in autonomous technology, these systems won’t be making an appearance in civilian hangars just yet. Most are tied to military contracts or are highly controlled by demonstration programs. Developers are still working through the kinks to prove long-term reliability under all operational situations. Regulatory roadblocks remain a huge barrier, also. Trying to get certification for an unmanned helicopter for commercial use overpopulated areas is a challenge that goes well beyond the engineering itself. Still, these advances lay the foundation for a future where fully autonomous rotorcraft could become part of daily life. As air taxi developers enhance self-flying systems and pilot-assist technologies continue to advance, it may not be long before civilian helicopters start to incorporate these capabilities. For now, they show exactly how fast aviation technology is changing, and give us a glimpse of a future where helicopters might not need pilots at all. Read More

Wongsakorn 2468/Shutterstock Back Tap is one of those iPhone features you probably didn’t know existed — or didn’t think you’d use until you tried it. Introduced in iOS 14, it lets you assign quick actions to a double-tap (or triple-tap) on the back of your phone. That means you can do things like lock your screen, take a screenshot, mute your phone, or launch a specific Shortcut — all without touching the screen. It’s part of Apple’s innovative accessibility tools, but it’s useful for anyone looking to streamline everyday tasks. It works with most phone cases, doesn’t require Face ID or on-screen buttons, and feels surprisingly intuitive once it’s set up. The feature isn’t turned on by default, though. If you’ve ever tapped the back of your phone expecting something to happen, that’s why. To use the Back Tap, follow this guide to enable it, customize what it does, and troubleshoot it if it doesn’t respond the way it should. How to enable and customize Double Tap on iPhone Keyede Erinfolami/Slashgear Start by opening the Settings app. Tap Accessibility, then select Touch under the Physical and Motor section. Scroll to the bottom of the menu and tap Back Tap. Choose Double Tap and select the function you want it to trigger. There’s a wide range of options — from basic controls like taking screenshots or silencing your phone, to more advanced accessibility features like enabling Live Captions or having on-screen content spoken aloud. You can also set it to perform scroll gestures or launch custom Shortcuts and automations. You can also enable Triple Tap if you’d like to assign a second function. Once it’s set up, using D Tap is simple. Just make the required number of sharp, steady taps on the back of your iPhone, near the center or top. The phone detects this input using its gyroscope and motion sensors, so there’s no need to remove your case. The only real adjustment is getting a feel for the tapping rhythm, but most users pick it up quickly. To change any of the assigned gestures, just return to the Back Tap menu at any time. And if you change your mind entirely, just go back to Settings > Accessibility > Touch > Back Tap, and select None to disable it. What to do if Double Tap doesn’t work on iPhone Karlis Dambrans/Getty Images If you’ve followed all the steps and Double Tap still isn’t responding, don’t worry. A few quick checks can usually sort it out. First, make sure your iPhone is actually compatible. Back Tap only works on iPhone 8 or later, running iOS 14 or higher. If your device is older, the setting won’t even appear. Yet another reason to stay on top of those iOS updates. Next, consider your case. While most phone cases don’t interfere with Back Tap, thick or rugged ones can sometimes block the motion sensors. Try removing your case and testing the gesture again. And don’t forget that the feature isn’t designed for gentle taps — you’ll want to give the back of your phone a firm but quick double tap, preferably near the center or top. If all else fails, go ahead and restart your iPhone. Sometimes, a simple reboot is all it takes to get things working smoothly again. Once you’ve got it running, Back Tap is just one of many clever features hidden in your iPhone— well worth exploring if you haven’t already. Read More

Baona/Getty Images There is nothing quite as frustrating as coming home after a long day at work and seeing a car parked in your spot — well, except for a car doing that multiple days in a row. You can tow a car from your reserved spot, but only if it’s within the property’s rules. You may be tempted to immediately call a towing company to reclaim what’s rightfully yours, but private companies may advise you to check out some local laws (which can get quite weird) before you go through with it. Why? Because there’s a chance that towing the other car could be illegal.  Towing laws vary not just by state but from property to property. If you’re on public property, you may want to call the police first to make sure you’re not breaking any laws by having the car towed. If you’re on private property, you will need to check local regulations to see if the situation fits the criteria to tow or you may find yourself in legal trouble. The same goes for towing a car that is parked in front of your driveway. Depending on where you live, there may need to be certain signage, wait periods, and other specifications before you call. Some towing companies may also require authorization from the property owner depending on local laws.  Check for signs, wait periods, and other local laws for private property bluestork/Shutterstock If your reserved parking spot is on private property, make sure there are signs posted on the property that warn others to stay out of reserved spots. Parking and traffic signs can get a bit confusing, but there are some common requirements to keep in mind. The usual verbiage includes a warning like “parked cars will be towed at the owner’s expense.” Depending where you live, the sign may have to be a certain size, have certain visibility, and include specific information, such as the phone number to the towing company that will be used.  Some towns will still allow you to tow a vehicle without a sign, but there are other requirements, like the car being in the reserved spot for a certain amount of days in a row. In most cases, it’s not legal to have a car immediately towed from public or private property without warning, depending on the situation. For example, Connecticut requires a 24-hour written notice for cars parked on private property, although if it’s parked specifically in a reserved spot, that rule is out the window.  California also requires a 24-hour written notice if a car is blocking your driveway if there’s no sign posted. To ensure you are not illegally towing a car, you will need to find out what type of property the reserved spot is on and then consult the local authorities to make sure you have the right. And definitely don’t attempt to move the car yourself, even if you have a very capable truck that’s good for towing. You could end up spending a large fee if the towing is proven to be unlawful.  Read More

VideoFromEveryWhere/Shutterstock Russia’s latest piece of high-tech weaponry, the Oreshnik missile, has been making headlines since its dramatic debut on November 21, 2024. The debut arrived in the form of grainy footage, which captured six distinct fireballs as they slammed into Ukraine at astonishing speed. But how quick was it really? Let’s break it down. Russian President Vladimir Putin claims it travels at Mach 10, or 10 times the speed of sound, making it one of the fastest hypersonic missiles today. Ukrainian military officials even clocked it at a faster Mach 11. Its name “Oreshnik” is Russian for “hazelnut tree,” which probably comes from its payload delivery system. The missile is equipped with six warheads, and each of those warheads carries six submunitions, creating a cluster effect like hazelnuts on a branch. The Pentagon has identified it as an experimental intermediate-range ballistic missile, likely a derivative of the RS-26 Rubezh program. This has been undergoing testing since 2011. All those headlines are a result of its chilling capabilities, specifically the combination of speed, power, and range. That incredible velocity makes the missile’s flight time incredibly short, giving air defense systems precious little time to react. The speed also gives it massive kinetic energy, making interception by systems like the American Patriot Air Defense System particularly difficult. During its first use, the submunitions were reportedly unarmed, but their kinetic energy alone was estimated to deliver a destructive force equivalent to tons of explosives. Putin even boasted that a few conventionally-armed Oreshniks could be as devastating as a nuclear strike. That’s a chilling claim considering the missile’s range of up to 5,500 km (3,415 miles), with which it can threaten targets across most of Europe and potentially even the western United States. How the Oreshnik is a tool of political intimidation Russia’s official reason for the Oreshnik’s first use was retaliation. Putin stated the strike was a direct response to Ukraine using U.S.-made ballistic missiles and British-made cruise missiles to hit Russian territory. The attack was a clear signal to the West, a high-tech “shot across the bow.” Many experts believe the missile is less a battlefield game-changer and more a tool for psychological warfare. Mathieu Boulègue of Chatham House said in an AP report that while Oreshnik doesn’t rewrite the rules of the war, “in terms of psychological warfare, it works great.” This view is echoed by John Erath from the Center for Arms Control and Proliferation, who described Russia’s hypersonic developments as “intimidation tactics” designed to scare off Western support for Ukraine. Russia is doubling down on missile development. In June 2025, Putin announced that “serial production of the latest Oreshnik medium-range missile system is underway.” Furthermore, the country has threatened to deploy Oreshniks to its ally Belarus in the second half of 2025, placing the weapon right on NATO’s border. As for whether the West has an equivalent, the short answer is not really. The U.S. was already lagging behind Russia and China in terms of hypersonic missile numbers, but it’s actively working to close the gap. The U.S. and Russia were previously bound by the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, which banned ground-launched missiles with ranges between 500 and 5,500 kilometers (300–3,000 miles). The U.S. withdrew from that deal in 2019, which opened the door for both nations to develop these kinds of weapons again. In July 2024, the U.S. and Germany announced plans to deploy ground-launched missiles in Europe by 2026, including the SM-6, Tomahawk, and “developmental hypersonic weapons.” Read More

(Image credit: Getty Images) Looking for a different day? A new NYT Wordle puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing ‘today’s game’ while others are playing ‘yesterday’s’. If you’re looking for Sunday’s puzzle instead then click here. It’s time for your guide to today’s Wordle answer, featuring my commentary on the latest puzzle, plus a selection of hints designed to help you keep your streak going. Don’t think you need any clues for Wordle today? No problem, just skip to my daily column. But remember: failure in this game is only ever six guesses away. Want more word-based fun? TechRadar’s Quordle today page contains hints and answers for that game, and you can also take a look at our NYT Strands today and NYT Connections today pages for our verdict on two of the New York Times’ other brainteasers. SPOILER WARNING: Today’s Wordle answer and hints are below, so don’t read on if you don’t want to see them. Your Wordle expert Wordle hints (game #1493) – clue #1 – Vowels How many vowels does today’s Wordle have? • Wordle today has a vowel in one place*. * Note that by vowel we mean the five standard vowels (A, E, I, O, U), not Y (which is sometimes counted as a vowel too). Wordle hints (game #1493) – clue #2 – first letter What letter does today’s Wordle begin with? • The first letter in today’s Wordle answer is T. T is one of the most common starting letters in the game, beginning 149 of Wordle’s 2,309 answers. That gives it a ranking of fourth in the alphabet, behind only S, C and B. Wordle hints (game #1493) – clue #3 – repeated letters Does today’s Wordle have any repeated letters? • There are repeated letters in today’s Wordle. Repeated letters are quite common in the game, with 748 of the 2,309 Wordle answers containing one. However, it’s still more likely that a Wordle doesn’t have one. Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Wordle hints (game #1493) – clue #4 – ending letter What letter does today’s Wordle end with? • The last letter in today’s Wordle is Y. Y is the second most common ending letter in the game, behind only E. In total, 364 Wordle answers end with a Y. Wordle hints (game #1493) – clue #5 – last chance Still looking for more Wordle hints today? Here’s an extra one for game #1493. Today’s Wordle answer is an excited, distracted state. If you just want to know today’s Wordle answer now, simply scroll down – but I’d always recommend trying to solve it on your own first. We’ve got lots of Wordle tips and tricks to help you, including a guide to the best Wordle start words. If you don’t want to know today’s answer then DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER BECAUSE IT IS PRINTED BELOW. So don’t say you weren’t warned! Today’s Wordle answer (game #1493) (Image credit: New York Times) NYT average score: 5.1 My score: 4 WordleBot’s score: 4 My skill score: 94 My luck score: 46 My start word performance: ALIBI (274 remaining answers) WordleBot’s start word performance: SLATE (102) Tomorrow’s start word: FATTY Today’s Wordle answer (game #1493) is… TIZZY. Hands up if you lost your Wordle streak today, then? I suspect a few of you will have done, because TIZZY is a monumentally difficult solution. According to WordleBot it has an average score of 5.1 at the time of writing, and that makes it one of only seven games so far in 2025 to reach 5.0 or above. In fact, it sits in equal fourth position for the year, difficulty-wise. Here’s how 2025 has shaped up on that front: Swipe to scroll horizontally Hardest games of 2025 so far Game Answer Date Average score My score 1310 ROWER Sunday, 19 January 2025 5.6 6 1426 EAGER Thursday, 15 May 2025 5.5 4 1482 JUMPY Thursday, 10 July 2025 5.2 5 1350 FUZZY Friday, 28 February 2025 5.1 5 1493 TIZZY Monday, 21 July 2025 5.1 4 1300 WAFER Thursday, 9 January 2025 5 6 1385 KRILL Friday, 4 April 2025 5 4 1388 HAZEL Monday, 7 April 2025 4.9 5 1332 GOODY Monday, 10 February 2025 4.8 5 1370 BASTE Thursday, 20 March 2025 4.8 4 1452 TAFFY Tuesday, 10 June 2025 4.8 5 1475 POPPY Thursday, 3 July 2025 4.8 6 1487 FOIST Tuesday, 15 July 2025 4.8 4 1351 HOVER Saturday, 1 March 2025 4.7 4 1477 BALER Saturday, 5 July 2025 4.7 4 However, I didn’t need the ‘Bot to tell me that it was a toughie – one look at the letters was enough for that. Z is a hard enough letter to play for on its own, but a double-Z? That’s just unfair. There are only five games among the original 2,309 Wordle solutions that contain more than one Z, so it really is a very unlikely occurrence. That said, this wasn’t one of those five – instead, it’s yet another answer that’s been added to the original answers list by those dastardly puzzle setters at the New York Times. The NYT appears to be ramping up the inclusion of non-original solutions, for reasons that are not clear to me. Maybe it’s about making the game more difficult – because many of the extra words has been stinkers. This is the equal toughest of them, though, with KAZOO the only other one to reach the 5.0 mark. This is now the fifth NYT word in the past month, and to put that in context, the previous five had spanned four months. We’ve now had 22 of them, but have no way of knowing how many more there are; well, unless the game’s editor Tracy Bennett spills the beans. Swipe to scroll horizontally Non-original Wordle answers Game Answer Date Average score Gap (days) 646 GUANO Monday, 27 March

(Image credit: Beelink) Beelink GTi15 Ultra offers vapor cooling in a chassis barely larger than a paperback novel A fingerprint reader and dual 10GbE ports are rare finds on any mini PC External GPU support solves one problem and creates three others in terms of cost and footprint Beelink’s GTi15 Ultra mini PC has been launched with features more commonly associated with full-sized desktops. The standout elements include dual 10Gb Ethernet LAN ports, a fingerprint reader, and support for external graphics – additions which suggest it is built for users who demand more than casual browsing or media playback, especially those looking to downsize without giving up specific performance perks. Compared to its predecessor, the GTi14, the new GTi15 Ultra brings an Intel Core Ultra 9 285H processor, but the raw CPU performance gain is modest, about 11%, based on internal benchmarks. Marginal CPU gains, sharper GPU contrast Beelink’s GTi15 Ultra doesn’t emerge in a vacuum; it’s the next step in a mini PC lineage that has gradually pushed the envelope. Earlier models like the GTi12 Ultra and GTi14 Ultra pioneered the inclusion of a PCIe x8 expansion slot for Beelink’s proprietary EX GPU dock, targeting users who wanted a compact form factor but still needed the option of a desktop-class GPU. The bigger change, however, lies in the integrated Arc Graphics 140T, which replaces the Arc 8-core iGPU from the previous model. Despite the branding, this shift may not result in a meaningful leap for GPU-heavy tasks. Sign up to the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed! The option to connect Beelink’s own external GPU dock certainly offers more flexibility, but not without added cost and space concerns. With up to 64GB of DDR5 memory and a built-in 145W PSU, the GTi15 Ultra is presented as a serious machine for demanding users. The dual 10GbE ports point toward a networking edge that could appeal to niche professional workflows, potentially making it viable as a business PC – but in most work settings, such bandwidth far exceeds actual requirements. The same goes for vapor chamber cooling, which may help thermals but feels more like a talking point than a necessity in typical office scenarios. Starting at roughly $655 in barebones form and climbing to nearly $880 when configured with 64GB RAM and 1TB storage, this mini PC lands in price territory occupied by capable desktops and laptops. While the appeal of a sleek video editing PC in such a small footprint is understandable, compromises remain, especially when factoring in the limited internal GPU and dependency on external docks for full graphics performance. Via Notebookcheck You might also like These are the best mobile workstations you can buy right now We’ve also listed the best mini PCs for every budget Inside the deepfake threat that’s reshaping corporate risk Efosa has been writing about technology for over 7 years, initially driven by curiosity but now fueled by a strong passion for the field. He holds both a Master’s and a PhD in sciences, which provided him with a solid foundation in analytical thinking. Efosa developed a keen interest in technology policy, specifically exploring the intersection of privacy, security, and politics. His research delves into how technological advancements influence regulatory frameworks and societal norms, particularly concerning data protection and cybersecurity. Upon joining TechRadar Pro, in addition to privacy and technology policy, he is also focused on B2B security products. Efosa can be contacted at this email: udinmwenefosa@gmail.com Read More